It’s more work…
when you care.
I caught myself, wondering why it was taking me so long to write an 800 word article about something I know quite a bit about. But I already knew the answer.
A lesson in writing and life: It takes a lot more out of you when you give a… you know.
The subject was something I cared about. This was something that would be out in the world, that people would read. And for this topic in particular, I wanted to make sure that what they read was true and real and helpful and surprising and all the things that you want your writing to be.
And then I thought, “It’s because you care.”
And when you care, things are just going to take longer. You don’t just want to turn in a pile of junk. You want to turn in something you’re proud of. Because it feels better. Because you give a… you know.
Some things I’ve written recently:
I shared my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe on the Arrogant Baker blog. This is my son’s favorite cookie that I make. Once it’s September, he starts requesting them. And I never feel bad about eating them or making them for him, because they’re actually full of pumpkin.
At Insider, I wrote about discovering the importance of having mom friends - or friends who happen to also be moms.
What I’m reading/watching/listening to:
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Reading - First, I read Cassie Uhl’s Wheel of the Year and loved it. It’s the first time the wheel of the earth has made sense to me. Learning about the eight festivals or holidays throughout the year helps me feel more in tune with nature. I just finished Auras, and now I’m reading Chakras. Uhl has a gift for making the mystical accessible. To support Cassie Uhl directly, visit her site here.
Sometimes I take the time to indulge in long articles, and I thought I’d share this one. The headline says a lot: “The Florida Divorcée’s Guide to Murder.” It’s about a woman who documented her significant other’s tips (if you will) in an anonymously penned book titled, Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors, which people then used as a guide to - you guessed it - murder. And I found a copy of it on Amazon.
Watching - I checked out an old History Channel DVD on the history of Halloween, and it was deliciously nostalgic. I felt like I was at home in high school again, bored out of my gourd… but calm.
Listening - I listened to Martha Stewart on Lipstick on the Rim, which was my first time for that podcast - but gosh, I love Martha.
The BBC Women’s Hour is my new favorite podcast - I always feel a little fancy listening to it… very sophisticated, very demure, very mindful.
And here’s a writing opportunity:
“The Oxford American is now accepting pitches for our Spring 2026 Food Issue. With this issue, we hope to survey the ways in which food holds a legacy, crosses a border, or creates a connection.
We’re looking for original, narrative-driven stories that explore the Southern food landscape in all its complexity—whether through cultural criticism, reported features, or profiles.”
For more details, read their pitch guide. Send pitches to submissions@oxfordamerican.org. The deadline is November 15.
And a prompt:
What’s the one perfect meal that would make you feel “at home,” and why?
Write on,
Ashley